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Original poster

...to think all dog owners should have them castrated/spayed (unless if they are for breeding)?

199 replies

LizziePizzie · 19/08/2013 10:05

I might be completely out of touch with this, but I thought that part of being a responsible dog owner was that was unless you have a stud dog, you get them castrated/spayed.

Is it cruel to have an entire dog/bitch, keeping them on the lead, or away from other dogs in case they get laid?

Is it cruel to have them castrated/spayed?

Is it just the responsibility of owners of bitches to get them spayed, or both owners of dogs and bitches?

OP posts:
LEMisdisappointed · 19/08/2013 17:14

I would absolutely spey a bitch though seen too many pyos (womb infections) to consider otherwise

RoastedCouchPotatoes · 19/08/2013 17:17

YANBU. I won't risk my pets becoming oregnant/causing a bitch or other cat being pregnant. However, my dog couldn't be neutered for existing health reasons at the rescue centre and they made sure I was extra aware of warning signs of testicular cancer etc; because it would endanger his health otherwise. Thankfully he has a good temperament, but I do get worried about the heightened cancer risk.

TheGirlWithTheFeatherTattoo · 19/08/2013 17:43

curlew Mon 19-Aug-13 13:45:05
"
My dog isn't neutered. He is a happy, healthy, friendly border collie. I see no need for him to be cut at all - what is the benefit? "

So he's always on a lead, is he?

No, why should he be? He isn't aggresive, he comes back when he is called and never hassles anyone - dog or human. I see no reason why I should leash him. We only have him on a lead when we're near cars. And even then just as an extra precaution

midori1999 · 19/08/2013 17:51

curlew I own a rescue dog that is severely dog aggressive. For this reason (well, and the fact that other dog owners can't be trusted to keep their dogs under control) he is kept on a lead at all times when out and away from other dogs, particularly those off lead, which also means pavement walking only. He isn't muzzled as is causes him more stress, which would be counterproductive, but I'd prefer him to be. It doesn't bother most dogs in the slightest.

He has a fantastic life and he is very happy. The thought of putting him to sleep is ridiculous! He is a valued member of our family, he gets lots of training to stimulate him mentally and he plays with my other dogs on and off all day. He is actually more tired out by a 30 min on lead walk with lots of training than he is a 10 mile on lead run or than he was when he could be walked off the lead (due to where we lived previously)

Not all dogs lead the same sort of life, but that doesn't mean they can't be happy and live a fulfilled life.

littlemog · 19/08/2013 21:39

Ilovemydog as we are very involved in rescue we have had dealings with many vets and I have never yet had a discussion with a vet where they do not say that neutering is a positive step to take for your dog healthwise especially in terms of cancer risks.
Why don't you actually discuss this with a vet rather than reading stuff off the internet? They are the ones who know what they are doing not google or MN.

As RoastedCouchPotatoes has pointed out, there will always be some dogs who, for existing health reasons, cannot be neutered but for most dog owners there is no reason why they could not do this one simple thing. Really - what is the big deal? As Burmobasher says, thousands of dogs are pts every year in this bloody country and so many of those need not have been born,suffered miserable lives and frightening deaths if people had just neutered their dogs.

In fact, the more I think about it, the more I become in favour of making people do it somehow. As well as bringing in an expensive dog license.

BuffytheReasonableFeminist · 20/08/2013 07:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SoupDragon · 20/08/2013 07:53

I have also discussed it with my vet and was told that the benefits did not outweigh any negatives for males but they would always recommend a female be spayed.

cleoowen · 20/08/2013 08:12

I agree with tabula, if my Butch is in season and other dogs are hassling her she would be on the lead. For her first season we had her on the lead to see what happened when dogs approached and then let her off when we saw it was ok.

If we weren't being responsible like this then yes, if she got pregnant it would be our responsibility. However, if she had been mounted,by the dog trying it on the other day I would have been cross with their owner. My dh commented on this and we were the ones who moved away as I did day it wouldn't be their problem if she got pregnant. That's the difference between not spaying a bitch and not having a dog done. Dog owners would not have the cost or the consequences if the bitch got pregnant.

midori1999 · 20/08/2013 08:29

cleoowen if you walk your bitch around other dogs when she is in season and/or let her off the lead, you are not being a responsible owner, IMO. What the hell do you think you are going to do to prevent a tie if she happened to be ovulating and a male dog approached her? You have just been very lucky so far!

It is very unfair on a bitch in season to walk her anywhere near other dogs and not really fair on other dog owners either, even some neutered males will still be keen to get to an in season bitch.

tabulahrasa · 20/08/2013 09:37

I know a couple of neutered males that'll do the whole shebang if they get the chance, nevermind those that would just be overly attentive.

I wouldn't ever let an in season bitch off lead with other dogs, besides getting pregnant you've got the possibility of neutered males mating with her, dogs getting aggressive with each other and with her.

I wouldn't not walk one completely, though I know some people do, but I'd be avoiding busy places and times and having her on lead if other dogs are about.

MiaowTheCat · 20/08/2013 10:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheGirlWithTheFeatherTattoo · 20/08/2013 12:54

so many of those need not have been born,suffered miserable lives and frightening deaths if people had just neutered their dogs.

By this argument you could have people who have been arrested on grounds of abuse, murder, GBH or paedephilia castrated too. I mean, there are thousands of children who have been born and suffered miserable lives who "didn't need to" if only their parents had been castrated.

Some people here seem have the opinion opinion that these are "just pets" and don't appreciate how in most households dogs are valued as equal members of the households.

  • Before anyone jumps down my throat, I'm not trying to say we should castrate people. Just making a point.
curlew · 20/08/2013 23:02

"Some people here seem have the opinion opinion that these are "just pets" and don't appreciate how in most households dogs are valued as equal members of the households"

Anybody who think dogs are equal members of households has seriously fucked up values.

DogonBed · 20/08/2013 23:10

Not much to add to the debate but have just had my 8yr old castrated because it decreases the risk of prostate cancer and his age meant I wanted to get it done before he got older.

I debated long and hard because I had been told it changed their personality for the worst, testosterone depletion in a fearful dog (he's a total wuss) etc

It has massively changed his character. He's puppy like, gorgeous, fun loving and a cheeky little devil whereas previously he was becoming a grumpy old man

I'm thinking of having my current gentleman caller done

MsFanackerPants · 21/08/2013 05:19

My mum has a "cavalier king Charles spaniel" dog, she "inherited" him from somebody who bought him from a backyard breeder. He is clearly not what the breeder said, his body is far too big, it's springer size whilst his head is the right size for his supposed breed. He also has temperament issues (which is why my mum now has him and not his original owner) as well as hip and eye problems. For him to pass on his genetics would be a disaster, cute though he is and even though he is a lovely dog 95% of the time. So he was neutered after taking advice from our vet and a dog trainer.

I volunteered at a dogs' home for some time and it was heartbreaking to see people dumping their unwanted pups that they hadn't managed to sell. All the dogs and bitches for rehoming were neutured/spayed as their backgrounds weren't certain and there was an issue with people trying to rehome bitches in order to breed from them. Huskies and malamutes were becoming the new dumped breed, although staffies were by far the most commonly dumped dog.

Twattybollocks · 21/08/2013 07:18

Personally I would like to see a breeders licence in this country and all dogs non owned by a breeder to be neutered or vaeectomised unless there is a sound medical reason not to perform the operation. It would make puppies more expensive (not a bad thing IMO) reduce unwanted litters and the number of dogs in the uk would reduce so would reduce the rescue burden. In particular it would regulate back yard breeding and puppy farming as part of the license would be an inspection of premesis and health checks/certificates for the breeding dogs.
Yes it would be expensive for people but we need to get rid of irresponsible dog owners, and most dog owners who are responsible make sure they can afford vets fees before taking on a dog.

Montybojangles · 21/08/2013 07:43

I love montys dog, she is part of my family. She is also spayed, and if she were a dog she would have been neutered.

I'm pretty shocked by some of the replies on here.

I'm also in the camp that a dog demonstrating persistant aggressive tendancies should be PTS. They are not on a lead and muzzled 24/7, and therefore there is always a risk of something terrible happening (think that young girl who was at her friends and was killed). Sorry.

Morloth · 21/08/2013 07:48

LOL at the experience of motherhood.

My cat lives the life of a god.

I would have traded my ovaries for her life, in a heartbeat.

Am often jealous of the cat. Would do the same for a dog.

Bowlersarm · 21/08/2013 11:54

Curlew - Anybody who think dogs are equal members of households has seriously fucked up values

Absolutely disagree.

Tell that to an elderly lady who sees no one for weeks on end. I expect her dog might be quite important to her.

Or the small child who is being bullied/finding school stressful/parents separating. Should think their dog might be important to them.

Or to a man/woman who's partner has died. Their dog might be quite important to them.

Mind you, you would have put your dog to sleep if it needed lead walking, so I wouldn't expect you to understand.

WestieMamma · 21/08/2013 12:30

I disagree too.

My dog is an autism assistance dog. His existence is life-saving to me.

curlew · 21/08/2013 12:35

Oh don't be stupid. Of course dogs and other animals are important- they are just not equal members of the household. And yes, if a dog could never be let off a lead I do think it should be put down- that's no life for a dog.

Bowlersarm · 21/08/2013 12:38

Curlew Oh don't be stupid

Great debating skill you have there.

TakingTheStairs · 21/08/2013 12:56

Curlew

Do you have a dog?

WestieMamma · 21/08/2013 13:10

Curlew you are talking rubbish. My dog is never let off the lead unless he's in a secured fenced in area, he's perfectly happy. It's an offence to let a dog off the lead where I live. Should the entire dog population of the country therefore be destroyed?

Bowlersarm · 21/08/2013 14:05

Curlew no one answered earlier, but I am fairly certain dogs have to be walked on leads in most states of the USA.

Would you advocate putting to sleep all the dogs in the US?